Method



NA PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

TILGATH ODEON, 0F PORTSMOUTH; VIRGINIA.

METHOD/ OF ATTACI-IING YARDS TO TRUSSES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 7,605, dated August 27, 1850.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, TILGATH ODnoN, ofPortsmouth, co-unty of Norfolk, and State of Virginia, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Trusses for Hanging Ships7 Yards, and thatthe following is a full, clear,` and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part ofthis specification.

I construct my truss by attaching to a ring encircling the mast, a forkor bow of iron of the form of an oX-bow or horseshoe, having at each endan eye through which a bolt is to pass in a vertical direction. rI`hering or band around the mast has, projecting from each side, a pair oflugs between which the ends of the bow-shaped truss are to pass. Theselugs have also holes for the insertion of bolts to pass through and toretain the ends of the truss in place or to allow it to be detached fromthe ring, when required. The truss stands out horizontally or nearly sofrom the mast, and is fixed in a permanent position, by the two bolts,coming through the lugs of the ring. I attach to the curve midwaybetween the extremities of the truss, a swivel passing horizontallythrough a hole in the arch, and place against the shoulders of theswivel on the outside and against a key on the inside of the truss, awasher to enable the swivel to turn with ease. This swivel can be easilydetached from the truss without lowering the yard. The eye on the outerend of the swivel receives a corresponding eye of a bolt attached firmly(or by a swivel) to a ring going around the yard. The swivel andeye-bolt thus attach and retain the yard to the truss, sustaining it atthe center while they allow it to roll upward or downward around theveye of the swivel, as a center, through an entire semicircle, or more,while the turning of the swivel around on a horizontal axis, permits theyard to be set a-cock-bill, on either side at pleasure, as well when thetopmast is let down as at other times.

The peculiar advantages which I derive from the improvements abovedescribed are, l, that the swivel and eye bolt connection between theyard band and the bow truss give universality of motion to the yard.abut its point of suspension to the bow; 2, that it brings the center ofgravity of the yard as near as practicable to the curved -eX- tremity ofthe bow truss, so that when hanging to the truss its weight will havethe least possible leverage to derange the lugs or bolt eyes whichfasten the truss to the mast-band; 3d, the swivel and eyes affordfacility for drawing the yard inward toward the mast, whereby its centerof gravity may be placed still nearer to the mast than when it hangsfreely by the bolt eyes, and this may be done by drawing it in, towardthe mast, below the truss, or raising it above the truss and thenrolling it inward, so as to rest its weight on the two sides of the bow;4, the eye bolts are simple and cheap in construction and morecompactand stronger with the same weight of metal than the rule jointsand other contrivances hitherto resorted to, for hanging yards to bowtrusses.

In the drawing M is the topmast when lowered down between the arms ofthe truss.

S is a swivel bolt passing horizontally through the curve of the truss AA.

E E, are lugs projecting from the ring R two on each side of the ring,between which pass the two eyes on the ends of the bowed truss A A, andare fastened in place by the bolts B, B, which retain the truss firmlyin its position.

R is the ring encircling the mast; fw w are washers one on the insideand the other on the outside of the curve, and 7c is a key to hold t-heswivel. bolt in place while allowing it to turn.

F, F, are connected bolt rings of which F is on the swivel bolt S, andI*v is attached to the ring R which encircles the yard.

I am aware that various ways of attaching yards to trusses have beendevised but that they all differ in one or more important particularsfrom that which is herein described and that they consequently fail tosecure the advantages above pointed out as pertaining to my truss havingswiveled eye-bolt connections with the yard band.

I claim- Suspending the yard to the truss by means of linked andswiveled eye bolts whereby the yard may either .be allowed to hangfreely below the eye which is swiveled to the truss, or may be slungupward and inward toward the mast, so as to bring its .center above thebowed end of the truss, in

the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.

TILGATH ODEON.

Witnesses:

WALTER R. JOHNSON, ISRAEL JACKSON.

